Sydney Sixers players are calling for the use of more video technology for decisions in the BBL following Wednesday night’s dramatic super-over semi-final victory over Brisbane at the Gabba.
Allrounder Johan Botha awoke sporting a bruise on his right bicep after he was given out caught behind on the third last ball of the Sixers’ chase, after replays clearly showed he missed the Ben Cutting delivery.
It was a crucial blow for the Sixers too, given they needed four to win at the time and the dismissal brought tailender Nathan Lyon to the crease with No.9 Ben Dwarshuis.
“It could have cost us a finals spot. Fortunately it didn’t,” Botha said.
Dwarshuis eventually tied the game, running two on the last ball to put it into a super over, before the Sixers booked their spot in the final against Perth on Saturday in the tiebreaker.
However it has renewed calls for the introduction of greater technology into the competition, which is now one of the headline acts of the summer of cricket.
Sixers skipper Moises Henriques said he would like to see the rules changed to allow the third umpire to have a great impact, but wasn’t a fan of slowing the game down by allowing captains to challenge decisions.
“There was a couple of umpiring decisions I felt if they got right it wouldn’t have been a super over,” Henriques said.
“I don’t think there should be referrals for the captain to use, but maybe if there is an absolutely howler before the batsman walks off then who knows.”
Botha would like to see one review allowed for each team.
Meanwhile Henriques also suggested another system could be used rather than the super over, after the tournament reached it first tie of the season in the semi-final.
However he admitted he wasn’t sure of what any alternatives could be.
“After 240 balls in a T20 game, for it to be decided by six balls each it’s sort of a little bit of an anti-climax in my opinion,” he said.
“You’ve got to have some sympathy for the Heat.”
Rob
Guest
Spot on.
Bee bee
Guest
This just shifts the issue as it has done in other sports. The (NRL Bunker) gets criticism almost every game let alone round because the problem is where do you draw a line on very grey decisions. Interpretation of rules is open to subjectivity in simple games. Cricket is far more complex than NRL. The advocates of DRS have the theory that it's intervention should be reserved for absolute Barry Crocker decisions. However, although Botha almost certainly did not hit the ball last night if you watch the replay closely his gloves come very close to the ball. So close you could not be (absolutely) certain he didn't feather that ball with his glove. I have seen DRS decisions where snicko says the bloke hit it but hot spot shows nothing. What does a third umpire do with that? Just like in life it's seems in cricket there are very few certainties. As much as I sound like a DRS hater I think giving the team the ability to refer a shocker is the way to go. Make the team / player decide just how certain they are. Just one shot. NRL is actually going the way of giving players the responsibility of referring. Because the people who are best placed to spot a ( shocker) and have the most to lose if they get it wrong are in the middle not in a box watching a TV.
George Utley
Guest
There was also the front foot no-ball that wasn't, leading to a bonus run and free hit, plus the wide given where the batsman had hit the ball, leading to an extra run and delivery. Not to mention Botha given out without hitting the ball. Poor umpiring is one thing, but this was both poor and biased; not necessarily intentionally, but that doesn't change the impact. And in a semi-final. This match should not have come close to a super over, as the third umpire would have known. No need for reviews, just let the 3rd umpire tell the field umps when they got it wrong.
Don Freo
Guest
Botha is angry at the umpire? I wonder if he considered the stupidity of the shot he tried to play. He needs to blame himself. There are more fingers pointing at him than at any umpire. Botha dropped a catch too. Will a review help him there?
Wayne
Roar Guru
Didn't they used to have a bowl off? One1 is best of bad situation